Allestree Park: Biggest urban rewilding project gets £1.1m boost

A Derby park's urban rewilding project can continue for three more years following a £1.1m funding boost.

The scheme to restore wildlife and habitats at Allestree Park is already in its third year.

Led by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Derby City Council, the project has now been granted funding from the National Lottery.

Councillors said the development aimed to "shape the park into a richer place for people and nature".

Rewilding is a form of ecological restoration, which aims to return habitats to a natural state.

The project is being implemented across the 320-acre (130 hectare) park.

It has seen an end to mowing across most of the site and a more nature-led approach, in which animals and plants change the habitat themselves.

Over the next three years, the project will be led by principles developed through a consultation process involving climate, wildlife and healthcare experts as well as the public.

These ideas will include light-touch interventions to continue to improve the site for nature, such as improving the diversity of wildflowers and letting grasslands grow.

Consultees also want more community involvement projects, including monitoring changes and volunteering to reintroduce mini-but-mighty species, such as dung beetles.

The new funding has been provided by The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players.

Dr Jo Smith, CEO of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: "You only have to visit and take a stroll through Allestree Park to understand that it is a calm and natural space where people can enjoy nature and be happy.

"The changes to the landscape since the project began are incredibly beautiful, with exciting things happening with every changing season.

"There are more butterflies than we have had in years, lots of birdsong, and long swathes of grass filled with wildflowers and colour."

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